FAQ

FAQ Page – Answers to our most frequently asked questions

On this page we’ve grouped together the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) that we receive. Hopefully you’ll be able to find the answer to your question here, but if not, there’s a contact form at the bottom of the page which you can use to ask us a question directly. We aim to get back to you within 24 hours, but it’s usually much sooner than that.

Which food safety/food hygiene course should I attend?

This depends on your role within the food business. Here’s a guide, but remember that your business may require you to undertake additional roles. For example, if you’re responsible for writing the policies and procedures, or completing the daily HACCP diary records, you may need to undertake a minimum of level 3 food safety training.

Below are some questions which should help guide you to your ideal course:

Do you just want to learn first aid for your own personal benefit (i.e. not for use at work)? – You could start with our Basic Life Support (Adults & Children) course, but realistically the sky is the limit.

Do you need a first aid qualification for work? – The most likely courses for you would be the 1 day Emergency First Aid at Work course (ideal for low risk environments such as offices), or the 3 day First Aid at Work course which is more suited to high risk environments (such as where there are higher numbers of staff, the staff are older (& therefore more likely to have serious health problems at work), or where the nature of the work is such that injuries are more likely. Many other factors need to be taken into consideration as well. See “What does my employer have to do on first aid?” below.

Do you work on Forestry Commission land? – If you’re to be the first aider & undertake any of the Forestry Commissions “core activities” (harvesting, civil engineering, mechanised ground preparation, planting, fencing, pesticides application, forest nursery activities, or similar including whether lone working or as a site supervisor) on “sites remote from medical aid and where limited help will be available”, your should undertake a “+F” course.

Chris Garland Training offer the QNUK Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work +F (RQF) & QNUK Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work +F (RQF) qualifications as well as requalification courses. The Forestry Commission state that when you are the designated first aider working on their land, but not undertake any of their “core activities”, you should hold either a valid EFAW or FAW certificate.

Do you work with children? – In terms of first aid, we’re grouped into three age groups;

0-1 years old = Infant

1 year-Puberty = Child

Puberty onwards = Adult

If you work with, or care for either infants or children, you should attend a paediatric first aid course. If you work within an Ofsted registered Early Years Foundation Stage setting (Ofsted registered childminder, Nursery school, Junior school, Pre/After school club, etc.) then you will, depending on whether you are to be included within Staff:Child ratios, need to hold a valid 1 day Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA) certificate, or a valid 2 day Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate. Chris Garland Training offer both of these qualifications with blended learning courses also available.

Further details of these requirements can be found within the Department for Education’s “Statutory framework for the early years foundations stage” document which came into force in April 2017.

Don’t forget that the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 place a general duty on employers to “provide or ensure that there are provided such equipment and facilities as are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first-aid to be rendered to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work”. Self-employed people are also covered by the Regulations and are required to provide adequate and appropriate equipment so that they can render first aid to themselves if they are injured at work.

Why choose Chris Garland Training for your first aid training, and not the Red Cross or the St John Ambulance?

Our highly experienced and proficient trainers use their first aid skills on a regular basis in the real world as well as the classroom.

We insist upon our trainers undertaking significantly more CPD training than we are required to undertake by our Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisations.

We teach you the full recommended course syllabus while others don’t.

Our courses are extremely practical and held in small groups so that everyone can receive individual attention to ensure you feel confident coping with a medical emergency.

We have ample manikins and practical resources available, so you won’t be waiting around for others to finish.

All our courses comply with the very latest UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines.

We are also able to offer online and blended learning courses as well as face-to-face courses both at our training centres and at your own venue.

Who are Ofqual, QNUK & TQUK?

The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England. Ofqual regulate & maintain standards and confidence in qualifications in England, including GCSE’s, A levels, AS levels & vocational and technical qualifications. This later category are includes all the accredited courses that we offer.

Qualifications Network UK (QNUK) & Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) are Awarding Organisations (AO’s) regulated by Ofqual who have written courses to match the requirements set by Ofqual. In effect Ofqual set the syllabus and the AO’s create a course to match the Ofqual syllabus. The individual AO’s own their own courses which are then offered by those training centres who are affiliated by the AO’s.

Naturally, Ofqual keep a keen eye on the AO’s, and in turn the AO’s keep a keen eye on their affiliated training centres, undertaking regular External Quality Assessments of courses along with unannounced spot checks of paperwork. In short, you can rest assured that when you train with Chris Garland Training you’re getting the best training around.

What qualification do I get after attending?

Details of each course certificate(s) is included within the course details page on our website.

Certificate validity, requalification and refresher training?

Full details are given on the individual course page. All first-aid training certificates, whether FAW, EFAW or some other appropriate training, are valid for three years.Employers need to arrange retraining before certificates expire. If the first-aider does not retrain or requalify before the expiry date on their current certificate they are no longer considered competent to act as a first-aider in the workplace.

They can requalify at any time after the expiry date by undertaking the two-day requalification course which lasts two days and covers the same content as the initial FAW course. However, it may be prudent to complete the three-day FAW course, especially where a considerable period (in excess of one month) has elapsed since the FAW certificate expired. It is for the employer to decide the most appropriate training course to requalify the first-aider. An EFAW requalification course should be of the same duration and content as the initial EFAW course.

How many people will be on the course with me?

The Health and Safety Executive stipulate maximum of 12 learners per instructor on Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) & First Aid at Work (FAW) courses. Our other Ofqual accredited courses are governed by the requirements of the Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisations to which Chris Garland Training are affiliated. In these cases, maximum number are again normally limited to a maximum of 12 learners per instructor.

This is a sensible number and we try to maintain this for our bespoke courses as well. We also have minimum numbers for each course, below which it would not be feasible to run a course. Generally there is a minimum requirement for 4 learners per course.

What do I need to wear/bring with me for the first aid courses?

We recommend you wear comfortable clothing (such as t-shirts, sweaters and trousers) to participate in the essential practical elements of our training.

Please don’t wear dresses, mini skirts, leggings that go see-through when stretched, baggy blouses, etc, as this may embarrass you and the instructor. Please also bring your own lunch and snacks.

For courses with an outdoor element please wear/bring with you:

Sweatshirt/fleece

‘Walking’/’combat’ trousers, not shorts or ’Cut-offs’ or Denim (it stays wet for ages and will make you cold).

something waterproof to keep your kit in (e.g. a rucksack lined with a bin bag).

Antibacterial wipes/gel.

A 1 litre water bottle.

Do your courses comply with UK Resuscitation Council guidance?

Yes; all of our courses have been written in accordance with the latest UK Resuscitation Council guidelines (2015) and guidance from other learned bodies (e.g. Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh).

I am unable to kneel on the floor/use a wheelchair; can I still attend?

Yes, of course. We can adapt the practical elements for you. Although if you are doing a regulated course the HSE require that we observe you undertaking full CPR on the floor. If you’re not able to undertake these practical elements we can issue a modified certificate in accordance with the guidance issued to us by the Ofqual regulated Awarding Organisations that Chris Garland Training are affiliated to. Please let us know as soon as possible if you have any special accessibility need that we need to take into consideration for your course as we may need to discuss these with the relevant Awarding Organisation beforehand (e.g. access, dietary requirements, translation, etc).

Can I bring my baby/child along to the course?

We love kids, but unfortunately our training venue is not set up for them to attend with you. If you would prefer to have your baby with you on the course, we would be delighted to run a course for you and a small group of friends at one of your homes with your little one’s present.

Can I learn online?

In addition to our practical courses, we offer Online and blended courses where you can learn vital skills and extend your knowledge from your smart phone and mobile devices in your own time. Full details of these are available within the course details page on our website. Online First Aid training courses fulfil the requirements for those needing the Appointed Person qualification or serve as an Annual First Aid Refresher as recommended through the HSE. The blended learning allows you to complete online learning at your own time and pace and then be assessed on the practical elements by one of our trainers.

What is blended learning?

Blended learning is the process of undertaking part of the course online at a time that suits you, then attending a classroom-based course to undertake and be assessed on the practical elements of the course. We offer a range of blended learning courses, such as the 12 hour Paediatric First Aid qualification that fulfils the criteria for the Ofsted Early Years First Aid certificate for the Compulsory Ofsted Register.

The online courses are compatible with all computers and mobile devices and allow you to stop and start as often as you like. The course is interactive consisting of videos, step-by-step instructions, diagrams, flow charts and much more. On the practical course we will cover the full Ofsted syllabus and your trainer will have adult, child and baby manikins available to use.

How do I book and pay for a course?

Please visit our individual course pages where you will find everything you need to know about our courses – available dates, times, prices, locations, etc. Once you have found your perfect course, choose a date and click “Add to basket”. You can then pay online by credit/debit card or BACS. To book a course for a group, at a time and place to suit you, please contact us. Once confirmed we’ll send you an invoice which you will be able to pay by BACS.

Are the trainers DBS checked?

Yes, all of our trainers hold current relevant enhanced DBS certificates which are verified on a regular basis.

What qualifications do the trainers have to teach?

Our Ofqual accredited courses are regulated by Qualifications Network UK (QNUK) who require that all instructors have relevant and ongoing experience of the subjects that they teach. All our trainers are annually moderated and regularly verified and have a formal teaching qualification. In addition, Chris Garland Training offer regular updates and upskilling sessions for the team and require that all our trainers have used their skills in real life situations.

In terms of first aid, what is an appointed person?

When an employer’s first-aid needs assessment identifies that a first-aider is not necessary, the minimum requirement is to appoint a person to take charge of first-aid arrangements. The role of this appointed person includes looking after the first-aid equipment and facilities and calling the emergency services when required. They can also provide emergency cover, within their role and competence (i.e. level of training), where a first-aider is absent due to unforeseen circumstances (annual leave does not count).

Do appointed persons need to undertake first-aid training?

To fulfil their role, appointed persons do not need first-aid training. However we would recommend that they undertake a Basic Life Support course as a minimum.

Can appointed persons perform first aid, e.g. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?

Appointed persons are not first-aiders and should not attempt to give first aid for which they have not been trained.

Record keeping - Do I need to record incidents requiring the attention of a first-aider?

It is good practice to provide first-aiders and appointed persons with a book in which to record incidents they attend. The information can help you identify accident trends and possible areas for improvement in the control of health and safety risks. It can be used for reference in future first-aid needs assessments. The record book is not the same as the statutory accident book though the two might be combined. Employers, self-employed people and those in control of premises have a duty to report some accidents and incidents at work under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR).

What information should be recorded?

Useful information to record includes:

the date, time and place of the incident.

the name and job of the injured or ill person

details of the injury/illness and what first aid was given

details about what happened to the person immediately afterwards (e.g. went back to work, went home, went to hospital).

the name and signature of the first-aider or person dealing with the incident.

Who is responsible for keeping the records?

It is usually the first-aider or appointed person who looks after the book. However, employers have overall responsibility, so it really depends on their record keeping policies.

What are the penalties for not meeting first aid at work regulations?

Breaches of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 are dealt with proportionately. Enforcement action could include the issuing of a notice or prosecution if the circumstances warrant it.

Is first aiders annual refresher training a mandatory requirement?

The HSE strongly recommended it to employers to help trained first aiders maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in first-aid procedures, but it’s not a mandatory requirement which always surprises those on first aid courses.

What does my employer have to do on first aid?

Your employer is expected to have:

completed a first-aid needs assessment.

ensured that there is either an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements or, if necessary, there are appropriate numbers of suitably trained first-aiders.

ensured there are adequate facilities and a suitable stocked first-aid box.

provided you with information about the first-aid arrangements.

How often should the contents of first-aid boxes be replaced?

Although there is no specified review timetable, many items, particularly sterile ones, are marked with expiry dates. They should be replaced by the dates given and expired items disposed of safely. In cases where sterile items have no dates, it would be advisable to check with the manufacturers to find out how long they can be kept. For non-sterile items without dates, it is a matter of judgement, based on whether they are fit for purpose.

First aid for travelling, remote and lone workers

Employers are responsible for meeting the first-aid needs of their employees working away from the main site. The assessment of first-aid needs should determine whether:

those who travel long distances or are continuously mobile should carry a personal first-aid box.

employees should be issued with personal communicators/mobile phones.

Are first-aiders allowed to give tablets and medication to casualties?

First aid at work does not include giving tablets or medicines to treat illness. The only exception to this is where aspirin is used when giving first aid to a casualty with a suspected heart attack, in accordance with currently accepted first-aid practice.

The HSE state “It is recommended that tablets and medicines should not be kept in the first-aid box.” They don’t say that you can’t so it’s reasonable to be pragmatic about this when factors such as weight, space & time affect the storage of equipment.

Some workers carry their own medication that has been prescribed by their doctor (e.g. an inhaler for asthma). If an individual needs to take their own prescribed medication, the first-aider’s role is generally limited to helping them to do so and contacting the emergency services as appropriate.

However, this does not apply to the administration of prescription only medication specified in Schedule 19 of the Medicines Regulations 2012, where this is for the purpose of saving life in an emergency; for example Adrenaline 1:1000 up to 1 mg for intramuscular use in anaphylaxis. Where a first aid needs assessment identifies that Schedule 19 medication may be required to be administered in an emergency, the employer should consider providing workplace first aiders with additional training in their use.

How many first-aiders are needed?

The findings of an employer’s first-aid needs assessment will help them decide how many first-aiders are required. There are no hard and fast rules on exact numbers and all the relevant circumstances of your particular workplace should be taken into account. There is a table in the Health & Safety Executive leaflet titled “First aid at work assessment tool” which provides further guidance on this.

Can legal action be taken against first-aiders?

Technically yes, although it’s very unlikely that any action would be taken against a first-aider who was using the first-aid training they have received (and not going beyond their level of training/role). We recommended that you seek legal advice, or advice from your employer’s insurance brokers, on whether your insurance policies cover first-aiders’ liability.

Does the EFAW course replace appointed person training?

For regulatory purposes, successfully completing an Emergency First Aid At Work (EFAW) course will enable the student to act as a first-aider in the workplace. The role of the appointed person remains and there continues to be no regulatory requirement for such personnel to undertake first aid training. However, employers can still send appointed persons on basic first aid training such as on EFAW courses, in which case they would become first-aiders in regulatory terms.

Not found the answer to your question?

If we’ve not answered your question above, please feel free to contact us using the form below and we’ll do our best to answer you within 24 hours.